I have a love/hate relationship with base makeup products so I’ve been testing a mix of high street and high end brands until I found my favourites.
When I gathered all of my base makeup together for this blog post, I didn’t realise how much I have now! On days when I’m getting outfit photos taken, on nights out, and special occasions where I like to make the extra effort to look nice, my base makeup includes a primer, BB cream, and a foundation. Finished by a setting spray if I have one at hand.
Which is the best primer for makeup?
Primer is a must for me. I went art school and the process of priming your canvas before applying paint on it has just stuck in my mind. Our skin is the canvas and the make up is our paint.
For primer, I sometimes use two types at a time on different areas of my face.
The Illamasqua Satin Primer is the best base makeup in vanity case! The consistency is quite runny and tacky which helps my make-up stick, thus prolonging the wear and reducing the amount of times I have to touch up (if at all).
I applied this all over my face on the day of my sister’s wedding and because I was a bridesmaid, I didn’t accessorise my dress with a bag so I couldn’t have any make up with me other than my lipstick.
Everyone else were carrying tiny little clutches as well, so there was no chance of me asking any of the ladies to carry my make up around for me. I didn’t panic though, I knew this primer from Illamasqua was 100% reliable.
Even through the summer heat, my make up managed to stay on for the full 12 hours without fading. I didn’t need to re-apply any of my make up (apart from the lippy!).
The primer has a satin finish which means it leaves your skin with a beautiful healthy glow (but not oily, don’t worry). It is the nicest primer, and very moisturising too. The Satin Primer is probably best suited for those with normal/dry skin. If you have oil prone skin type, or if you prefer a matte finish, try the
Illamasqua Matte Primer instead.
Then I also have another primer which I only use on certain parts of my face. Either Garnier Perfect Blur or Benefit’s Porefessional which blurs fine lines, covers certain areas like the side of my nose and deep laughter lines.
The balmy texture smoothes the surface of my skin and makes the foundation go on a lot more flawlessly. That’s my trick to how I make my skin looks flawless in photographs. It looks GREAT on camera.
My favourite BB Creams & Tints
The second base layer I add is either a BB cream, skin tint, or tinted moisturiser. This evens out my skin tone, reduces redness and covers up any freckles and blemishes.
I usually opt for the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream. It does a great job of evening out my skin tone and covering blemishes and freckles. It’s also a great colour match for my skin tone and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry.
I’m sure there are other better BB Creams out there but I’ve never had the urge to switch it up because I’m happy with this one. It has a slightly dewy finish to it but it’s not an overly shiny glaze.
Benefit’s Big Easy claims to be more than a BB Cream. Big Easy is a medium coverage with a matte finish, which goes from a liquid to a powder finish. I like this, it’s a really nice product but can only use it on good skin days as it tends to cling on to dry patches. Exfoliate the night before, and apply a hydrating mask and Big Easy transfers on to skin like a dream.
A recent addition to my “base” collection is Rodial’s Instaglam Skin Tint with SPF 30. This is a really gorgeous tinted moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid which is known for it’s locking in hydration and keeping your skin moisturised.
It is lightweight but provides a medium coverage. At £45, it’s certainly on the pricy side but oh my, it makes your skin look so completely beautiful! Lots to talk about with this one and I will be doing a full review of this very soon! If you ever come across it when you’re shopping, you must check it out.
Finally, Foundation and Finishing Powder
Liquid Foundation: I really like the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation. It’s the only drugstore foundation I’ve ever loved. When I can’t afford an high end one, this one is the one I opt for. It’s a matte finish but it doesn’t cling to dry, flaky patches like a lot of matte foundations do. I did a full review of it
here.
Highlighter: I know I like the matte, flawless look but I don’t exactly want my face to look like a potato, so I use a tiny bit of highlighter on my brow bone and a little bit on the apples of my cheeks before apply a blusher.
This just puts a bit of radiance back in to my face but also looks flattering when the light hits those part of my face where I’ve applied highlighter. The one I’m using at the moment is Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand.
Finishing Powder: Rimmel Clear Complexion is affordable and effective. It doesn’t pick up much of the product but that just gives your more control over it.
Benefit’s Porefessional Agent Zero Shine is a loose powder so you can apply more of that in one go. Both of these eliminates shine so it’s a nice option for those with oily skin. I did a full write up of the
Rimmel Clear Complexion and
Porefessional Agent Zero Shine, so if you’d like to know more, then click through to have a little read! But as always, if you have any questions, just give me a shout on the comments or social media!
simply amazing. Enjoying reading your posts, keep in touch! xx Peach
http://momomoworld.blogspot.com
I love the Porefessional primer too! Still need to try the Big Easy 🙂
Style Sunrise
🙂
x
I love seeing what other people use to create a flawless face, it makes me realise how much my collection is lacking though! x
Thanks for the recommendation !
Sara,
http://thecrimeofashion.blogspot.fr
I'm curious about that Illamasqua primer. I've been wanting to get something from the brand (I though about getting a blush because everyone says that they are amazing) but I try to get this first. Take care*
Your skin sounds so similar to mine – will have to try that Rimmel foundation. Ever since Estee Lauder changed the colours of their Double Wear foundation I've been on a deeply unsatisfying hunt to find both a shade that matches my pale yellow-toned skin and doesn't make it super greasy. The only thing I have here is the Garnier Perfect Blur – which I do like, but feel like there could be better out there… Make-up is just a never-ending hunt for the best really, isn't it?!
I love the Benefit Porefessional! But it's so expensive, so I use it very carefully 🙂
Marissa Jamie : Faithfully, Marissa ♡
I love rimmel's clear complexion powder x
Lizzie's Corner
Love this post! I really wanna try the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation and the Maybelline BB Cream, both seem pretty convincing and good considering they're drugstore! x
Lina from sisterblend
This is such a helpful post! Thank you, you've just got me to add that illamasqua primer to my need to buy list! It sounds amazing and just what I need x
http://www.classicrouge.com
This is where I struggle the most in make up terms, I really want more of illamasqua so I will give them a good shot xxx
I love all things base! I totally love this post too! Hhaha! The variety of things is great! I seriously HOPE that HK carries the Garnier primer. That might be a fun thing to try.
Thanks for this post, I'm always troubled with primers as they either make my skin more oily or doesn't have the desired effect I want. I think I'm going to try the Illamasqua one as it sounds like the perfect solution and like the sound of the Benefit BB cream!
Steph x
i really love this post:D, i have both the pore professional and the big easy, i think it look so nice on 🙂 , i just bought a few makeup products tell me what you think, there are a lot of good deals on at the moment 😀
thankyou x
http://ellisemmerson.blogspot.co.uk/
Love Benefits Pore-fessional Primer and serisouly need to try the loose set powder. My skin is just the worst over summer so I will definitely be experimenting with some of these x :o)
Love the satin primer, although it's gotten crazy pricey over the years! xo
Love posts like this, I'm so clueless on base products so posts like this help me a lot 🙂 xxx
http://blogthiswithhannah.blogspot.co.uk
Love the picks 🙂
I have the same Stay Matte as you, and I enjoy using BB cream. I'm also really glad I've stumbled upon your blog, I'm crazy about the whole blog design/graphics:)xx
http://trendythursday.blogspot.com